Laparoscopy Decreases Morbidity Compared to Open Colon Surgery

May 7, 2009 – Researchers concluded that laparoscopy should be offered to all patients who lack an absolute contraindication for laparoscopic surgery, concluded doctors in a study comparing outcomes of non-emergent laparoscopic to open colon surgery.

In the study, researchers Gregory D. Kennedy, M.D., Ph.D., et al, wrote: “Laparoscopy has revolutionized much of gastrointestinal surgery. Colon and rectal surgery has seen drastic changes with many of the abdominal operations being performed laparoscopically. However, data comparing recovery and complications in patients undergoing laparoscopic and open colon surgery has shown only slight benefits for laparoscopy. Given the large benefits of laparoscopy in most gastrointestinal surgical procedures, this outcome is surprising. We, therefore, have set out to test the hypothesis that laparoscopic approaches decreases postoperative complications.”

The researchers reviewed a database maintained by the American College of Surgeon’s National Surgical Quality Improvement Program to identify 8,660 patients who met inclusion criteria for this study. Postoperative complication data were collected for patients undergoing laparoscopic or open colon surgery. Using a combination of univariate and multivariate analyses, they evaluated for statistical significance and found that laparoscopy decreased overall complications as well as individual complications.

“We found a decreased length of stay as well as a decreased risk for postoperative complications in the elderly. We found that laparoscopy decreased complication rate independent of the probability of morbidity statistic,” they concluded.